Fishless Cycle Question.

[fishygurl]

Before i say anything please do not tell me to read some article...I have read something like i think 41 of them and i just need confromation.

Is this right:

1Set up tank (Do i add my live plants now??)

2Let run for 2 days to make sure everything is in working order

3Add pure ammonia to bring ammonia to 5 ppm (how long after this should i test for nitrites?)Add cycle (i know its useless but it wont hurt to try....)

4repeat 3 when ammonia goes back to 0

5(this is the part im not clear on..)when nitrites goes up add more ammonia??/

6 when nitrate spikes the cycle is almost done??

7when everything is at zero the cycle is done???

 

[IMCL85]

1: you set up the tank if you have plants planted them right now after the tank is full you will have a very hard time to planted them. I usually put about 10% of the water into the tank and start my planting.

2: fill up ur tank

3: turn on ur heater and filter

4: get ur self a test kit(ammonia/nitrite/nitrate)

5: test ur water once to see ur ammonia lvl

6: after a few days test it again(if you see number of ammonia start droping start test for nitrite. during this period of time u can put some fish food in a nylon bag and toss it to ur tank for ammonia.

7: continue monitor ur ammonia and nitrite lvl for a few more days. Until you see no more reading of either of this begin watching ur nitrate lvl altho nitrate is harmless but on a high lvl it will stress ur fish. I usually add some fish food during this time for ammonia to keep baterica growing.

8: after all the stats is at normal start adding a few hardy fish in ur tank for the tank to ages all the stuff and continue monitor ur water stats. after a few monthes its time to add ur fravoit fish to ur tank .

 

[modernhamlet]

IMCL85, fishloverforever is doing a fishless cycle...

1Set up tank

2Let run for 2 days to make sure everything is in working order
*** Add plants now***

3Add pure ammonia to bring ammonia to 5 ppm
(how long after this should i test for nitrites?)
***Once you see the ammonia actually dropping substantially, you can start testing for nitrite. In actuality, you can wait longer if you want.***
Add cycle (i know its useless but it wont hurt to try....)
***The plants will help far more than the Cycle ever will***

4repeat 3 when ammonia goes back to 0
*** Basically yes, but I don't let the ammonia get below 2ppm. Keeps things going.***

5(this is the part im not clear on..)when nitrites goes up add more ammonia??/
***When ammonia goes down add more ammonia. Nitrites will go up and come down on their own. Just make sure there is ammonia (2-6ppm).***

6 when nitrate spikes the cycle is almost done??
***Don't even worry or think about nitrate for now. (see below)***

7when everything is at zero the cycle is done???
***When ammonia and nitrite are at 0ppm 24 hours after you last added ammonia, you're cycled. Just do a huge (95%) water change (to get rid of all the nitrate) and you're ready for fish.***

 

[rdd1952]

1Set up tank (Do i add my live plants now??)
--You can add plants either before or after. I have cycled both ways and it really doesn't speed it much. It is much easier to add them before you put the water in though.

2Let run for 2 days to make sure everything is in working order
--Will help let the water clear too if it is cloudy from the sand/gravel

3Add pure ammonia to bring ammonia to 5 ppm (how long after this should i test for nitrites?)Add cycle (i know its useless but it wont hurt to try....)
--You are right that cycle won't help. You would be much better off trying to get some sponge or filter media from some's (that you trust) established (cycled) tank.

4repeat 3 when ammonia goes back to 0
--As already stated, add it when the ammoni gets to about 1 or 2

5(this is the part im not clear on..)when nitrites goes up add more ammonia??/
--You have to keep adding ammonia to keep the bacteria already developed fed. That is why the nitrite spike takes so long to drop because you are technically adding more nitrite daily (in the ammonia that is transformed to nitrite)

6 when nitrate spikes the cycle is almost done??
--You don't really even need to test for nitrate more than once or twice. After the nirtie starts to rise, check for nitrate a couple times just to make sure there is some (nitrite is being processed).

7when everything is at zero the cycle is done???
--When you can raise the ammonia to 4 or 5 ppm and the ammonia and nitrite are both back to 0 within about 12 hours, you arecycled. Do the 75 to 90 percent water change and add fish.

 

[fishygurl]

OK question.. the ammonia I have aroud .... if I shake it it only has like tiny litlle bubble on the top.. will this be OK??

 

[rdd1952]

If they bubbles go away almost immediately, they are just air bubbles (Kind of like the bubbles you get when you run water in a glass). If they stay for a while then most likely the ammonia has detergent (or surfactants)and won't work. Does it have an ingredient label? If so, it should only have ammonia and water with possibly a chelating agent which is ok. You don't want surfactants, dye or fragrances.

 

[SkiFletch]

If they bubbles go away almost immediately, they are just air bubbles (Kind of like the bubbles you get when you run water in a glass). If they stay for a while then most likely the ammonia has detergent (or surfactants)and won't work. Does it have an ingredient label? If so, it should only have ammonia and water with possibly a chelating agent which is ok. You don't want surfactants, dye or fragrances.

Exactly. Usually its the cheaper brands of ammonia that dont have all the surfactants and fragrances in them. Just a general rule of thumb so to speak